Since no enlightened teachings have come forth, perhaps it falls to me to clarify my statements. I realize that at times, my posts tend to ramble, be incomplete, full of grammatical errors and typos.
My qualifications on matters of ecology….none.
I was raised on my family’s ranch in Bosque County. We hunted Jack Rabbits religiously. I spent the majority of my child hood outside often on the back of a horse.
My education is in Ranch Management and Ag Economics. (Texas Christian University and Texas Tech University respectively)
Throughout the early 80’s, it was quite common to enter a 200 acre Bermuda grass field and shoot 10-12 rabbits and running off countless others before having to move to another field. The 80’s were times of abundant rainfall so forage was plentiful. Rabbits were thick. And the coyote population was at a low point.
Coyote numbers had been in a decline with increased use of Compound 1080 and other predator-control toxicants up until 1972, throughout the Great Plains, when the use of toxicants on federal lands was prohibited. Ranchers put pressure on coyote populations and Government trappers were employed to further reduce numbers. Fur prices were up so hunters and trappers also played a key part in keeping the population in check.
With the abundance of forage through out the 80’s, the rabbit population was on the rise. Increased forage means larger numbers of breeding females and larger litter sizes. Increased rabbit populations meant greater food supplies for predators. Studies have shown rabbits and rodents to be the primary diet of coyotes. Livestock and domestic animals are eaten infrequently.
During the 80’s even with abundant forage, the ranching industry was seeing times of very low profitability, that meant less funds for predator control. The elimination of the use of toxicants along about the same time frame and a depressed fur market meant coyote populations were due for an increase.
Since the coyotes were not under as much pressure as in the past and food was plentiful, their numbers naturally increased. Increased numbers of coyotes translates to increased pressure on rabbits. Hunting pressure probably remained the same on rabbits due to the fact it was simply cheap entertainment.
Now we enter into a cycle of low rainfall during the mid 90’s. Forage is decreasing. Rabbit numbers are declining due to increased predation and lack of food sources. Cattle market is improving so ranchers, in an attempt to make up lost profits, are more likely to overgraze further competing with the rabbit population for food.
Which brings us to the current time frame. Jack rabbits are hard to find around here at this time, although, as I indicated in a previous post, sighting are on the increase. Coyotes are plentiful. No one hunts them for fur, simply for sport and eradication, government trappers are still employed but in lower numbers and with less rancher’s participation.
As to the number of Jack rabbits it takes to equal the forage consumption of a cow, I’d have to say the number between 7 and 15 (both of which I’ve heard before) is very inaccurate. You’ll never convince me that 22 pounds of Jack Rabbits will eat as much as a 900-1000 pound cow. No matter how much higher a rabbits metabolism may be. Grown Jacks are 1.5 pounds on the hoof. Mammals of Texas, TTU Press estimates the number at 128. I feel that is a better number but may still be low.
Double you indicate that rabbits eat a lot that “cattle can't or should not eat.â€
The primary diet of the Blacktailed Jackrabbit in the spring is clovers and lush green vegetation…..sounds a lot like what I cultivate for cattle. In the fall they feed on what green they can find and woody plants and dried grass. Again, they are competing with cattle.
If my rudimentary understanding of ecology seems wrong to you, I again, ask you to educate me. 40 years of just being out there observing the ecology and making a living from it may have me biased.
Thanks for your time.
Smoke
, Art
